... their best offensive weapon being their stud tailback Frank Gore. However, Gore needed some extra room to run on the right side of the offensive line last year. The 49ers' right tackle position was like a game of musical chairs, with Tony Wragge, Adam Synder, and Barry Sims all spending time at the position.

With the four other offensive line positions set in stone for the upcoming season, the 49ers needed to find one more offensive tackle to complete the group. They did that yesterday by signing former Pro Bowl tackle Marvel Smith, formerly of the Steelers.

The 30-year-old tackle is listed as 6'5", 321 pounds, went to the Pro Bowl in 2004, and helped the Steelers win their fifth championship in Super Bowl XL against Seattle.

Smith is also a native of Oakland and his agent Ken Zuckerman said that playing professionally in the region he grew up in "has been his dream."

However, the 49ers signing a local, stout offensive tackle may seem too good to be true,...